Pest control method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to project toward a tree to disburse a pheromone, comprising: a releaser removably adjacent to a capsule via an extension; whereby said releaser and said capsule are disposed adjacent to each other in a deployable state, then the releaser separates from the capsule but is still connected via said extension whereby inertia causes said releaser to move away from said capsule into an attachment state, and related methods of applying a pheromone onto a tree branch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/567,578, filedAug. 6, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/231,577, filedSep. 13, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,811, which is a continuation ofSer. No. 12/146,436, filed Jun. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,024,889,all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was not made with Government support under. TheGovernment does not have any rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pheromones are released in agricultural environments, such as orchardsand farms, to control insect reproduction and insect population so thatplants and vegetation growth can be enhanced. In some cases, thepheromones are disposed in the upper ⅓ of trees to decrease invadinginsects in fruit crops, such as apples.

A pheromone is a chemical substance that is usually produced by ananimal and serves especially as a stimulus to other individuals of thesame species for one or more behavioral responses. Pheromones can beused to disrupt mating of invading insects by dispensing the pheromonesor the pheromone scent in the air, so the males' cannon locate thefemales, which disrupts the mating process. Pheromones can be producedby the living organism, or artificially produced. This pest controlmethod does not employ insecticides, so the use of pheromones is saferfor the environment, and for living organisms.

Currently, the relevant art includes tying pheromones onto branches byuse of the pheromones being imbedded within “twisty-tie” like products.Pacific Biocontrol Corporation, of Litchfield Park, Ariz.(pacificbiocontrol.com), makes and sells these types of pheromoneproducts. These products require the user to manually, or by means of arod-like extension, twist each product onto a branch, like one wouldapply the twisty-tie to close a trash bag. This is a labor intensivepractice, especially for large orchards.

As can be seen, there is a need for faster way to apply such pheromonesystems

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect is an apparatus to project toward a tree to disburse apheromone, comprising: a releaser (20) removably adjacent to a capsule(25) via an extension (120); whereby said releaser (20) and said capsule(25) are disposed adjacent to each other in a deployable state (180),then the releaser (20) separates from the capsule (25) but is stillconnected via said extension (120) whereby inertia causes said releaser(20) to move away from said capsule (25) into an attachment state (200).

Another aspect is a method of applying a pheromone onto a tree branch,comprising: positioning a releaser (20) to a first end (122) of anextension (120); positioning a capsule (110) to a second end (124) of anextension (120); positioning the releaser (20) adjacent to the capsule(110) so that the member (10) is in a deployable state (180); projectingthe member (10) in its deployable state (180) whereby inertia causessaid releaser (20) to separate from said capsule (110) and form anattachment state (200).

Another aspect is a method of applying a pheromone to a tree, comprisingthe steps of: positioning (340) a releaser (20) to a capsule (110) viaan extension 120; positioning (320) said releaser (20) adjacent to saidcapsule (110) so that said member (10) is in a deployable state (180);and projecting (330) said member (10) in said deployable state (180)whereby inertia causes said releaser (20) to separate from said capsule(110) and form an attachment state (200).

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of a member of the presentinvention in an open position or attachment state;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the first embodiment of the member of thepresent invention in a closed position or deployable state;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment of a member of thepresent invention in an open position or attachment state; p FIG. 4A isa pictorial view of the second embodiment of the member of the presentinvention in a closed position with the releaser within the capsule;

FIG. 4B is a pictorial view of the second embodiment of the member ofthe present invention in a closed position with the releaser on theoutside of the capsule;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of a gun that may be used to deploy a memberof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of a member being displaced toward a treebranch while in an attachment state;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a member being applied to a tree branch;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial of a schematic of a method of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial of a third embodiment of the present inventionwith the releaser extended from the capsule;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial of the third embodiment in a closed position,with the releaser disposed adjacent to the capsule; and

FIG. 11 is a pictorial of a schematic of a method of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the invention, since the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

Reference Numerals:

10 member

20 releaser

25 capsule

30 capsule type I

40 first capsule I portion

50 second capsule I portion

60 capsule type II

70 first capsule II portion

72 first groove

80 second capsule II portion

82 second groove

90 first capsule II hollow interior

100 second capsule II hollow interior

110 capsule III

120 extension

130 gun

180 deployable state

200 attachment state

300 positioning a releaser to a first end of an extension

310 positioning a capsule to a second end of an extension

320 positioning the releaser adjacent to the capsule

330 projecting the member in its deployable state

340 positioning a releaser to a capsule via an extension

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment on the present invention. The member10 may include components including a releaser 20 connected to a firstend 122, and a capsule 25 connected to a second end 124 of an extension120 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In another embodiment, the releaser 20 may be disposed between twoextensions 120, and each extension 120 may extend outwardly and connectto a capsule 25.

The capsule 25 may be of any shape and it may be hollow if the releaser20 or if the releaser 20 and the extension 120 are to be disposed withinthe capsule. As an example, the capsule 25 may be of a type referred toherein as capsule type I, capsule type II, or capsule type III; whichare substantially interchangeable.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a hollow spherical shaped capsule type I. Thecapsule type I 30 may have a first capsule type I portion 40 and asecond capsule type I portion 50.

FIG. 2 illustrates a member 10 as a capsule type I 30 in its closedposition. From the closed position, or deployable state 180, asillustrated at FIGS. 2, 4A, 4B, and 11, the member 10 can be propelledtoward a tree; then due to inertia, the member 10 will separate from atleast one of either capsule type I 30, capsule type II, 60, or capsuletype III 110 to an attachment state 200, as illustrated in FIG. 7, fromwhich the extension 120 may wrap around a branch, holding the releaser20 in the air to release the desired pheromones. Then when member 10contacts a tree branch, the member 10 may wrap around the branch, whereit remains to deploy a pheromone into the air to disrupt the matingprocess of invading insects.

FIG. 3 illustrates another type of member 10. This member 10 may bereferred to as the capsule type II 60. The capsule type II 60 may have afirst capsule II portion 70, and a second capsule II portion 80. Thefirst capsule II portion 70 may have a first capsule II hollow interior90. The second capsule II portion 80 may have a second capsule II hollowinterior 100.

The capsule type II 60 can be closed as illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B.FIG. 4A illustrates the capsule type II 60 with the releaser 20 stowedinside the capsule type II displaced at least one of the first capsuleII hollow interior 90 and the second capsule II hollow interior 100. Themember 10 may be in this closed position for deployment when in theclosed position, referred to herein as the deployment state 180, thenafter the member is deployed, it may separate to be in the attachmentstate 200, as illustrated in FIG. 7, then it may wrap around a branch asillustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 4B illustrates the capsule type II 60 with the releaser 20 disposedjust outside of the capsule type II 60. The application may be the sameas described as above, when the releaser 20 is stowed within the capsuletype II.

FIG. 6 illustrates what the capsule 25; here the example used is capsuletype II 60 may look like after deployment, and before wrapping around abranch. The releaser 20 may be disposed between two extensions 120,which may terminate at a first capsule II portion 70, and at the opposedend, a second capsule II portion 80. The first capsule II portion 70 mayhave a first groove 72 that extends linearly so that the extension 120may be placed through the first groove 72, and tied at a distal end 74.Similarly, the second capsule portion II 80 may have a second groove 82that extends linearly so that the extension 120 may be placed throughthe second groove 82, and tied secured at a distal end 84.

FIG. 5 illustrates a gun 130 that may be used to deploy the member 10.For example, a user may point the gun 130 at a tree, and pull a triggerto project the member 10 from the gun toward a branch initially in thedeployment state 180, as shown in FIG. 6, and then the member 10 maywrap around a tree branch as illustrated in FIG. 7 when in theattachment state 200.

Alternatively, a gun 130 need not be used. Any means of projecting ordisplacing the member 10 toward a branch will work. For example, onecould even throw the member 10 toward the branch.

FIG. 8 is a schematic of the method of practicing the present invention.This illustrates the steps of a method of applying a pheromone onto atree branch, comprising: positioning (300) a releaser (20) to a firstend (122) of an extension (120); positioning (310) a capsule (110) to asecond end (124) of an extension (120); positioning (320) the releaser(20) adjacent to the capsule (110) so that the member (10) is in adeployable state (180); and projecting (330) the member (10) in itsdeployable state (180) whereby inertia causes said releaser (20) toseparate from said capsule (110) and form an attachment state (200).

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment that uses a releaser 20 connectedto a capsule III 110 via an extension 120. This may use less parts, andmay be cheaper to produce.

FIG. 10 illustrates the embodiment while the releaser 20 is disposedwithin the hollow capsule II 110, ready for deployment. Although FIG. 11illustrates the releaser 20 disposed within the capsule III, it 20 maybe disposed on the outside of the capsule III, as is illustrated in FIG.4B.

FIG. 11 illustrates the method of applying a pheromone to a tree,comprising the steps of: positioning (340) a releaser (20) to a capsule(110) via an extension 120; positioning (320) said releaser (20)adjacent to said capsule (110) so that said member (10) is in adeployable state (180); and projecting (330) said member (10) in saiddeployable state (180) whereby inertia causes said releaser (20) toseparate from said capsule (110) and form an attachment state (200).

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus to project toward a tree to disperse pheromone,comprising: a releaser removably adjacent to a capsule via an extension,the releaser comprising pheromone; whereby said releaser is disposedwithin said capsule in a deployable state, then said releaser separatesfrom said capsule but is still connected via said extension wherebyinertia causes said releaser to move away from said capsule into anattachment state.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said releaser isdisposed around the outside of said capsule when in said deployablestate.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said releaser is disposedbetween a first capsule portion and a second capsule portion via saidextension.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capsule iscylindrical.
 5. A method of applying a pheromone onto a tree branch,comprising: positioning a releaser to a first end of an extension, thereleaser comprising pheromone; positioning a capsule to a second end ofsaid extension; disposing said releaser within said capsule to provide acombined releaser and capsule member in a deployable state; andprojecting said member in said deployable state whereby inertia causessaid releaser to separate from said capsule and form an attachmentstate.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said capsule is cylindrical. 7.The method of claim 5, wherein projecting said capsule comprisesprojecting said capsule with a gun.
 8. The method of claim 5, whereinprojecting said capsule comprises projecting said capsule through abarrel.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein projecting said capsulecomprises throwing said capsule.
 10. A method of applying a pheromone toa tree, comprising the steps of: positioning a releaser to a capsule viaan extension, the releaser comprising pheromone; disposing said releaserwithin said capsule to provide a combined releaser and capsule member ina deployable state; and projecting said member in said deployable statewhereby inertia causes said releaser to separate from said capsule andform an attachment state.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein saidcapsule is cylindrical.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein projectingsaid capsule comprises projecting said capsule with a gun.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein projecting said capsule comprises projectingsaid capsule through a barrel.
 14. The method of claim 10, whereinprojecting said capsule comprises throwing said capsule.